Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing composite capsules by means of interfacial polycondensation in a dispersed medium of at least two different monomers. The invention is characterised in that the aforementioned polycondensation is performed in a gas in the liquid and/or supercritical state. The composite capsules thus obtained can be used in the pharmaceutical, veterinary, phytosanitary or cosmetic fields for the delayed, controlled, prolonged and/or controlled release and/or the vectorisation of active principle(s) contained therein.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method of forming a reflector member which contributes to an improvement of the quality of the image, and a reflective structure and a liquid crystal display device to which the method is applied. The plurality of holes 92 and 93 are formed by exposing the photosensitive film 9 to light and developing it. The photosensitive film 10 is formed on the photosensitive film 9 in which the plurality of holes 92 and 93 have been formed. The reflective electrode 110 is formed on the photosensitive film 10.

Abstract: The average current consumption of an electronic apparatus is determined in that an energy store C is repeatedly charged and discharged across the apparatus 1 between a set upper threshold value Uso and a set lower threshold value Usu during a typical operating sequence of the apparatus 1 and within a set measuring time T. The number N of charging processes occurring within the measuring time T is counted and the average current consumption is calculated therefrom while taking into account set values.

Abstract: In a CMOS imager, each cell (1) comprises a photodiode (6) which is charged via a reset transistor (T1) before each integration period. During the integration period, the reset transistor is turned off by means of an appropriate gate voltage applied to the gate (7) of the reset transistor. In order to lower the FPN (fixed pattern noise), this blocking voltage is chosen to be lower than the supply voltage VDD. Surprisingly, it was found that leakage currents could be decreased considerably by this lower blocking voltage, possibly due to lower tunnel currents through the gate oxide which is very thin in modern CMOS processes. In a specific embodiment, said lower blocking voltage can be applied substantially without any limitation of the dynamic range of the imager.

Abstract: The invention relates to nano- or microparticles containing an active substance embedded in a polymer matrix and to a method for their production, comprising the steps of: a) effecting precipitation of an active substance in a solution which comprises a polymer dissolved in an organic solvent to obtain a suspension of the active substance, b) mixing the obtained suspension with an aqueous surfactant solution and solidifying the polymer to obtain a suspension of nano- or microparticles which contain an active substance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of coding a digital image comprising macroblocks in a binary data stream, comprising an estimation step, for macroblocks, of a capacity to be reconstructed by an error concealment method, a decision step for excluding macroblocks from the coding, a decision to exclude a macroblock from coding being made on the basis of the capacity of such macroblock to be reconstructed and a step of inserting a resynchronization marker into the binary data stream following the exclusion of one or more macroblocks.

Abstract: A dual signal path provides enhanced noise cancellation for phase locked loop applications. According to various aspects of the invention, dual charge pumps are used to split the phase locked loop signal into dual signal paths, wherein each path carries an information signal with an injected noise component. The dual signal paths are arranged to maintain the magnitude and phase characteristics of the injected noise component. Filter blocks process the signals, retaining the injected noise component. The filtered signals are coupled to the input of an adder circuit where the filtered signals are subtracted. Because each filtered signal contains the injected noise component, the subtraction operation effectively cancels the injected noise component from the filtered signals.

Abstract: This invention features a toy, which emits variable sounds generated by singular and/or collective methods, comprising of an assemblage of a first material forming article body portion, hereinafter named as “toy body portion,” comprised of substantially elastomeric materials and formed hollow, and a second material forming article frame portion, hereinafter known as “cylindrical frame” comprised of substantially rigid materials. Said cylindrical frame further comprises an integrated sound tube device with associated sliding whistle component. An air aperture is formed within the tubular wall of said sound tube and positioned so as enveloped by the interior cavity of the toy body portion, whereby physical compression or expansive decompression of the toy body portion will directionally actuate air into and through said sound tube device. In its preferred embodiment, said toy body portion has said cylindrical frame located centrally through toy body portion and protruding through each side thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a grid (3) for the absorption of X-rays (11). An anti-scatter grid for reducing the scattered radiation is readily manufactured by arranging a plurality of layers containing wire elements (10) that are spaced apart and an appropriate ruggedness is achieved also for large-area X-ray detectors.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a frequency weighted (FW) matrix for use in a Fine-Granularity-Scalability (FGS) video coding system. The system comprises: a system for plotting the average discrete cosine transform (DCT) residuals versus the zigzag DCT scan line locations for a sample video frame encoded both at a predetermined base layer bit-rate and at approximately three times the predetermined base layer bit-rate; a system for generating the difference plot of DCT residuals versus the zigzag DCT scan line locations for the video frame encoded at both the predetermined base layer bit-rate and at approximately three times the predetermined base layer bit-rate; and a system for matching and normalizing a staircase curve to the average difference plot, wherein the staircase curve values can be further mapped into the weights for the FW matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite material and a process for manufacturing the composite material by applying at least a single organic barrier layer to a substrate to reduce the oxygen permeability of the substrate. Depending on the intended application, the composite material may also include an outer cover layer over the barrier layer to improve moisture resistance. The preferred materials are triazines, particularly melamine, that are vapor-deposited onto the substrate to form a thin, durable transparent barrier layer.

Abstract: An optical wavefront modifier (27) is adapted for modifying a wavefront of an optical beam passing through the modifier. The modifier comprises a first and a second transparent electrode layer (42?, 43?) and a flat medium (46) for modifying the wavefront in dependence on electrical excitation and arranged between the electrode layers. The first electrode layer (42?) comprises three or more electrodes (51-55) of a transparent, conductive material. The electrode layer also comprises a series arrangement of resistors, comprising three terminals (48, 48?, 48?) connected to the electrodes and resistors (49, 49?) connecting the terminals. The resistors are made of the same transparent conductive material as the electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the compounds of formula the N-oxides, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein p is 0 to 4; X is O, S, NR5 or a direct bond; Y is O, S, NR5 or S(O)2; R1 independently is C1-6alkyl, halo, polyhaloC1-6alkyl, hydroxy, mercapto, C1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkylthio, C1-6alkylcarbonyloxy, aryl, cyano, nitro, Het3, R6, NR7R8 or substituted C1-4alkyl; R2 is Het1, C3-7cycloalkyl or optionally substituted C1-6alkyl and if X is O, S or NR5, then R2 may also represent aminocarbonyl, aminothiocarbonyl, C1-4alkylcarbonyl, C1-4alkylthiocarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, arylthiocarbonyl, Het1carbonyl or Het1thiocarbonyl; R3 and R4 independently are hydrogen, C1-6alkyl or C3-7cycloalkyl; R3 and R4 form a C2-6alkanediyl; R5 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl; R6 is a sulfonyl or sulfinyl derivative; R7 and R8 are independently hydrogen, optionally substituted C1-4alkyl, aryl, a carbonyl containing moiety, C3-7cycloalkyl, —Y—C1-4alkanediyl-C(?O)—O—R

Abstract: By coding (ENC1) data (D), coded data (CD) and, in addition, a set of parameters (PAR) for decoding (DEC1) the coded data (CD) are obtained. MPEG video coding is an example of such a coding. The coded data (CD) is modified by carrying out the following steps. The coded data (CD) is, at least partially, decoded (DEC1) so as to obtain decoded data (DD). The decoded data (DD) is modified (MOD) so as to obtain modified data (MD). The modified data (MD) is coded (ENC) so as to obtain coded modified data (CMD). It is examined (EXAM) whether a satisfactory result will be obtained if the set of parameters (PAR) for decoding the coded data (CD) is applied for decoding (DEC2) the coded modified data (CMD). If the result is satisfactory, the set of parameters (PAR) for decoding the coded data (CD) is added to the coded modified data (CMD). If the result is not satisfactory, a new set of parameters (PAR) is established (ADP) and the new set of parameters (APAR) is added to the coded modified data (CMD).

Abstract: The liquid crystal display panel of the present invention provides rapid highlighting of the display. To provide highlighting, current to the backlighting lamp is increased from a normal current to a highlighting current. During the transition from the normal current to the highlighting current, the current to backlighting lamp is increased to an intermediate current above the highlighting current, and then decreased to the highlighting current. The increase to an intermediate current provides greater energy to the backlighting lamp than a direct increase from the low current to the highlighting current. The increased energy heats the backlighting lamp quickly to provide the increased light for highlighting. In addition, reducing the current to the backlighting lamp below the normal current when leaving the highlighting mode decreases the time to leave the highlighting mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for predicting events using acoustic and visual cues. The present invention processes audio and video information to identify one or more (i) acoustic cues, such as intonation patterns, pitch and loudness, (ii) visual cues, such as gaze, facial pose, body postures, hand gestures and facial expressions, or (iii) a combination of the foregoing, that are typically associated with an event, such as behavior exhibited by a video conference participant before he or she speaks. In this manner, the present invention allows the video processing system to predict events, such as the identity of the next speaker. The predictive speaker identifier operates in a learning mode to learn the characteristic profile of each participant in terms of the concept that the participant “will speak” or “will not speak” under the presence or absence of one or more predefined visual or acoustic cues.

Abstract: Compensation, e.g. temperature compensation of the operating voltage of an LCD is obtained by using the V50 point of a test cell via the differentiated AC current (switching current of the test cell as a control parameter).

Abstract: A method and system for purchasing assets on behalf of customers who use financial transaction media such as credit cards, ATM/CAT cards, and electronic commerce managed by a financial institution. As the customer uses his financial transaction medium to purchase goods and services, he generates a sum of purchases. This sum is converted into incentive points that are added to incentive points previously earned. When the customer has enough incentive points, the method or system purchases an asset, such as a stock, on the customer's behalf, using the incentive points. The utilization of this method or system may be over a short-time promotional period, or it may commemorate a special occasion, or it may be used as part of a compensation package for an employee of a corporation.

Abstract: The present invention embodiment comprises an arrangement of integrated circuits with a UART device that is configurable to operate in a power-reduced mode while the clock frequency of serial data communication remains constant. In one example embodiment, an arrangement of a plurality of integrated circuit devices includes a first integrated circuit device driven by a first clock signal at a first clock rate. The arrangement contains a parallel data bus coupled to communicate with the first integrated circuit device in response to the first clock signal. The arrangement also includes a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) chip with a serial communication circuit adapted to communicate serial data at a second rate defined by a second clock signal. The UART chip also encompasses a parallel bus interface circuit responsive to the first clock signal and adapted to pass data between the parallel data bus and the serial communication circuit.

Abstract: A coating system comprising: a rotating roller; an electrode having a surface located adjacent the roller that defines a space between the surface of the roller and the electrode surface, which space has first and second apertures located at different angular positions about the axis of the roller, wherein the electrode surface is formed with at least one drain aperture located between the first and second apertures; a voltage source that applies a voltage difference between the electrode and the roller; and a source of liquid toner comprising charged toner particles dispersed in a carrier liquid that discharges the liquid toner into the space through the first aperture, wherein a portion of the liquid toner discharged into the space coats a region of the surface of the roller that passes by the electrode, a portion exits the space through the second aperture and a portion exits through the at least one drain aperture.